Adapter assembly for use with spring clamps



E. J BARIL Aug. 23, 1955 ADAPTER ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH SPRING CLAMPSFiled March 1, 1952 INVENTOR. EDWARD J. BARIL United States PatentADAPTER ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH SPRING CLAMPS Edward J. Baril, Brooklyn,N. Y.

Application March 1, 1952, Serial No. 274,416

2 Claims. (Cl. 306-27) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in an adapter assembly for use with a spring clamp.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of anovel adapter assembly including an elongated pole on one end of which atubular sleeve is fitted to be engaged with a conventional spring clampin a manner so that desired tools engaged with the clamp can be used toreach inaccessible places within limits of the length of the pole.

Another object of the present invention proposes constructing thetubular sleeve so that when it is engaged with one of the handles of thespring clamp, the respective end portion and coiled portion of thespring of the clamp will function to frictionally retain the sleeve inposition within the concaved inner side of the respective handle. I

As a further object, the present invention proposes constructing the endof the pole so that it may be received within the tubular sleevenotwithstanding the presence of the end portion of the spring of theclamp within the sleeve.

The present invention further proposes a modification of the presentinvention in which a screw is inserted through aligned holes in thehandle of the clamp and the sleeve and threaded into a complementaryhole formed in the handle in a manner to provide an additional means forsecuring the clamp, the sleeve and the handle together as a unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to construct an adapterassembly of the type described which is simple and durable, which iseffective for its intended purpose and which can be manufactured andsold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of the presentdisclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an adapter assembly constructed inaccordance with the present invention and connected to a spring clamp asproposed by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the adapterassembly and clamp.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tubular sleeve of the adapterassembly.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the elongated pole of the adapterassembly.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view illustrating another use for the adapterassembly and attached clamp.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification of thepresent invention and having a portion of a tool inserted between thejaws of the clamp.

The adapter assembly, according to the first form of the presentinvention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, is designed for use with a conventionalspring clamp 10 having a pair of jaws 11 and 12 each having an integralhandle 11 and 12 respectively. The spring clamp 10 has its jaws 11 and12 formed of a rigid non-corrosive metal all as generally known in theart. Intermediate of their ends, the jaws 11 and 12 are formed withspaced pairs of ears 14 and 15, respectively. The ears 14 of the jaw 11are disposed outside of the ears 15 of the jaw 12. The ears 14 and 15are formed with aligned holes through which a pin 16 is passed forpivotally joining the jaws 11 and 12 for relative movement. The handlers11 and 12 of the jaws 11 and 12 are bent laterally to have concavedinner sides 17 facing one another.

Engaged loosely about the pin 16, there is a coil spring 18 which hasone end portion 18 extended along the concaved inner side 17 of thehandle 12 and its other end portion 18 extended along the concaved innerside 17 of the handle 11 Thus, the coil spring 18 through its endportions 18 and 18 exerts a force tending to spread the handles 11 and12 to close the jaws 11 and 12, as shown in the Fig. 2. When the handles11*- and 12 are squeezed together, the jaws 11 and 12 are opened againstthe action of the coil spring 18 so that a household total of any typecan be engaged therewith.

Spring clamps 10 of the type described, are generally known in the artto which the present invention pertains so that further details of theclamp will not be given in this disclosure. Such spring clamps aremanufactured by Knape and Vogt of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The adapter assembly, according to the present irivention, includes anelongated tubular sleeve 20 formed at one end with a semi-circularextension 21, see particularly Fig. 5. The tubular sleeve 20 is extendedalong the concave inner side 17 of one of the handles 11 or 12 with itssemicircular extension 21 facing the pintle pin 16. On the drawings, thetubular sleeve is shown extended along the inner side of the handle 12but it is appreciated that it is equally well adapted for extensionalong the inner side of the handle 11 -the handle with which it isengaged being a matter of choice. The tubular sleeve 20 has an externaldiameter which complements the curvature of the concave inner side 17 ofthe handle 12* to be snugly received therein, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the tubular sleeve 20 is being pushed into the concave inner sideof the handle 12 from the free end thereof, the end of the end portion18 of the coil spring 18 is lifted away from the concave inner side ofthe handle 12 so that the end portion 18 enters the sleeve 20, as shownin Figs. 2 to 4. With the end portion 18 of the spring 18 extended intothe sleeve 20, that end portion serves to force the sleeve into facialcontact with the concave inner side 17 of the handle 12 see Fig. 2.

Inward movement of the sleeve 20 with relation to the concave inner sideof the handle 12 is continued until diametrically opposite sides of thesemi-circular extension 21 become engaged between the inner face of thehandle 12 and, more particularly, the inner faces of the ears 15 and theadjacent ends of the coil spring 18, see particularly Fig. 3. The coilspring 13 is an especially strong one and requires slight compression topermit entrance of the opposed sides of the semi-circular extension 21.The coil spring 18 then exerts its force in spreading the opposed sidesof the semi-circular extension 21 into good facial contact with theinner faces of the cars 15.

The longitudinal side edges 21 of the semi-circular position within theconcaved inner side 17 of the handle 7 12", the sleeve is held at twoplaces. First, the end portion'l8'- of the coil sring 18 forces theouter circumference of the sleeve into good facial frictional contactwith the concaved inner side 17 of the handle 12. Secondly, the maincoiled portion of the spring 18 tends to slightly spread the opposedsides of the semi-circular extension 21 into good facial frictionalcontact with the inner faces ofthe cars of'the jaw 12. Thus, thetubular'sleeve 20 of the adapterassembly will be held frictionally inposition within the concaved inner side of the handle 12*.Simultaneously; the position of the inner end of the sleeve 20 isstabilized within the concave inner side of the handle 12 by theengagement of the longitudinal side edges 21 of the extension 21 withthe side of the pin 16. Engagement of those side edges 21 with the pin16 forces the i extension 21, at the inner end of the sleeve 20, intogood facialcontact with the concaved inner side of the handle 12 andfurther holds the sleeve against possible rotative movement relative tothe handle 12.

in position in the sleeve, it is such that the pole can be manuallypulled from the sleeve with a force which is insuflicient to disengagethe sleeve 20 from its engaged position with the handle 12 I To permit aconsiderable extension of the pole 22 into the sleeve 20 notwithstandingthe presence of the end portion 18 0f the spring 18 within the sleeve,the side of the pole 22 at the inserted end thereof is formed withajlongitudinally extended groove 23,'see Figs. 2 to 4 and 6. When theendof the pole 22 is inserted into the sleeve 20, the end portion 18 ofthe spring is receivedwithin the groove 23, as shown'in Figs; 2 and 4.

In Fig. 1, there is illustrated one use to which the spring clamp 10.canbe put when the adapter assembly of'the present invention is attachedthereto. In that figure, the jaws 11 and 12 of the spring clamp 10 areshown gripping the usual right angular socket extension of aconventional window squeegee 31. That mounts the squeegee 31 on the endof the pole 22 so that the squeegee can be used to' reach highinaccessible areas of windows when washing the same.

The squeegee 31 of Fig. 1, merely illustrates one example of a tool orhousehold aid that can be engaged with the clamp 10. In place of thesqueegee, the clamp 10 can be used to grip floor or wall mops, wiskbrooms,

paint brushes, dust cloths and the like.

In Fig. 7 there is illustrated another use to which the combined springclamp 10 and adapter assembly can be put. In that figure, the jaws 11and 12 of the spring clamp IO-are shown engaged in position on the edgeof the top 40 of a table 41 which is only partially shown. The pole 22then extends laterally from the side of. the top 40 of the table to havetowels 42 or the like draped thereover todry.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8 is characterizedby the addition of a screw 24 for holding the handle 12, the sleeve 20and the pole'22 together to form an integral unit of those parts. Thescrew 24 is passed through aligned holes formed in the end of the handle12*, the sleeve 20 and is threaded into a complementary hole 25 formedin the pole 22. Thus, the pole 22 cannot be freely pulled out of thesleeve 20 and the sleeve 20 cannot be readily disengaged from the handle12*; so that before either of the parts can be removed the screw 24 mustfirst be removed.

From a consideration of Fig. 8, it will be clear that the screw 24 formsa third securing place for the sleeve 7 In all other respects, themodification of the invention shown in Fig. 8 is similar to the firstform and like refer ence numerals are used to'identify" like parts.

1 From the foregoing description, it is apparent that.

the association of the adapter assembly with the spring clamp 10 is areadily detachable one so that the adapter assembly can be completelydisconnected therefrom when desired permitting the spring clamp 10 to beused, without encumbrance from the adapter assembly, for the purposesfor which -it was designed. a

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges'and modifications coming within the scope of the invention assetforth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1. An adapter assembly for usewith a spring clamp having'a pair of jaws, a pin pivotally connectingsaid jaws, the jaws being extended beyond the pin to form handles havingconcave inner sides and by which the jaws can be spread apart, and aspring coiled on said pin and biasing said jaws toward closed position,said spring having two end portions of which one is engaged with theconcave side of a said handle, said adapter comprising an elongatedtubular sleeve, the second end portion of the spring being engagedwithin the sleeve frictionally securing the same against the concaveside of the other handle, said sleeve including a semi-cylindricalextension, the longitudinal edges of which frictionally engage said pinon either side of said spring to stabilize the engageinent of the sleeveagainst the inner side of the other handle, and an elongated polefrictionally fitted into said tubular sleeve.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the elongated pole includes alongitudinallyextended groove receiving the end portion of the spring.

References "Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

